DRINKING WATER
AMERICAN And Partners Install Boltless Restrained Underwater Pipeline System In Ashland, Wisconsin
Beneath the waters of Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin, about 4,500 feet of 24-inch AMERICAN Flex-Ring Ductile Iron Pipe and a submerged timber crib intake structure were installed to ensure the city’s residents have quality drinking water for the next 100 years. The Ashland Water Intake Project began May 1, 2025, and is now complete.
DRINKING WATER CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS
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Potato Chips In Peru? Headworks Solves A Multinational Food & Beverage Company's Space And Effluent Quality Challenges
Although industry only accounts for 20% of water consumption globally (vs. 70% for agriculture and 10% for domestic consumption), most multinational industrial companies are now focused on ensuring they provide effective environmental management wherever they are in the world.
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![BEACON® Advanced Metering Analytics (AMA) Managed Solution Improves Efficiencies And Customer Service For Pittsylvania County Service Authority, VA]( "SaaS Managed Solution Improves Efficiencies And Customer Service")
SaaS Managed Solution Improves Efficiencies And Customer ServiceWhen Chris Adcock became the Executive Director at the Pittsylvania County Service Authority (PCSA) in 2013, he found an aging water system. With customer service concerns and rising costs, Chris started his search for the best water metering solution and found the BEACON® Software as a Service (SaaS) managed solution from Badger Meter.
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![0125-Sensus]( "Modern Solutions For Aging Water Systems: AMI And Beyond")
Modern Solutions For Aging Water Systems: AMI And BeyondLessons from two communities on the benefits of advanced metering infrastructure.
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An 8-Point Checklist Of Pressure Gauge Application Best Practices
As electronic measurement, microprocessor or computerized control, and wireless networking have worked their way deeper into industrial processes, new opportunities for accuracy, convenience, and cost-saving efficiency have multiplied. Electronic accuracy and communication have delivered performance advantages down to even the simplest functions — including pressure readings.
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![GettyImages-182188515 water testing]( "Texas Has Confirmed Kemio Is An Approved Method For Water Quality Testing")
Texas Has Confirmed Kemio Is An Approved Method For Water Quality TestingThis is great news for water quality testing. Kemio provides laboratory results, whether in the lab or in the field, allowing the operator to swiftly address water issues. With the multitude of municipalities and laboratories in Texas, this is a huge win for Water Quality Testing!
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![Four Day Pilot Study For Iron And Manganese Does The Trick]( "Four Day Pilot Study For Iron And Manganese Does The Trick (Loprest)")
Four Day Pilot Study For Iron And Manganese Does The Trick (Loprest)The City of Southgate, California wanted to investigate the effect of replacing the existing media in their Well 27 treatment plant. The plant would not reduce the incoming manganese levels to below the 50 μg/l MCL. It has been theorized that the existing media has become fouled beyond cleaning during the one year plus of non-operation while contained in the filter tank full of water. That environment could produce a likely source of biological and other sources of fouling.
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![Carbon Fill]( "What Is Activated Carbon?")
What Is Activated Carbon?Although the term granular activated carbon is used generically, it can refer to dozens of similar – but not identical- adsorbents. Depending on raw material, method and degree of activation and other factors, activated carbons can perform differently in various applications.
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![iStock-1054574144]( "Water Utility OT vs. IT — It's Not A Battle, It's A Balance")
Water Utility OT vs. IT — It's Not A Battle, It's A BalanceThe chemistry of optimizing water/wastewater treatment extends far beyond chlorine and oxygen. It also involves synthesizing productive insights from the flood of IT data generated by operational technology (OT) sensors, instruments, and control systems. Here’s how better operational intelligence strategies are helping IT and OT personnel collaborate to make processes more cost-efficient.
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OSG- On-Site Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) For Drinking Water Applications
Drinking water treatment plants use various forms of chlorine to inactivate pathogens, oxidize metals or metalloids and provide disinfection residual for distribution systems. By Glen Smith, PEPCON Systems
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![CaseStudies_Delaware-1.jpg]( "PVDF Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration Membranes Selected For Plant Upgrade")
PVDF Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration Membranes Selected For Plant UpgradeThe City of Delaware, Ohio's Water Treatment Plant (WTP) started operating in 1889. Under the EPA's Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2), the WTP's feed water is classified as Bin 2, which requires a 4-log removal of Cryptosporidium. As a result, the City would convert its 6.0 MGD lime softening plant to a 7.2 MGD membrane treatment facility utilizing a 4.5 MGD ultrafiltration (UF) system to comply. A total of seven proposals were received during the bidding phase of the UF system, which was narrowed down to three based on best projected capital and operating costs and membrane performance. The three selections would be piloted for further evaluation. Read the full case study to learn more.
DRINKING WATER APPLICATION NOTES
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Ion Exchange Resins And Activated Carbons For Better-Tasting Water12/18/2013
For many, access to good-tasting tap water is limited, and buying bottled water can be expensive. Simple pour-through jug filters offer a low-cost and effective alternative. Activated carbons, in conjunction with ion exchange products, produce drinking water that is absent of all industrial pesticides and contaminants.
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Aquafine Ultraviolet Treatment Systems For TOC Reduction1/29/2025
Aquafine TOC reduction units coupled with ion exchange systems or EDI will oxidize trace organics into smaller ionic species, carbon dioxide and water, which are more readily removed by ion exchange resins, EDI, and/or degasifiers.
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Phosphate In Groundwater And Surface Water: A Rapid And Reliable Determination Method Using The Photometric Spectroquant® Test1/31/2019
Phosphorus is an essential element for organisms and plants. In natural, uncontaminated waters, it occurs as organically bound phosphate, condensed phosphates or as orthophosphate — often referred to by its chemical formula PO4-P. The small quantity of phosphorus present in natural waters does not promote the growth of plants. However, a rise in the concentration of phosphorus results in the proliferation of algae, which leads to the eutrophication of the water body.
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Network Monitors Water Quality In Shale Gas Drilling Region9/2/2011High-pressure injection of water, sand, and chemicals that fracture shale deposits deep underground to free trapped natural gas is employed by drillers tapping the Marcellus shale beds, a geologic deposit that stretches from central New York to Virginia and contains gas believed to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. By YSI
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Application Note: Busseron Creek Watershed Partnership Addresses Concerns In A Rural Watershed1/20/2010As with other watershed organizations, the Busseron Creek Watershed Partnership (BCWP) exists because of surface water quality degradation. In this case, those waters drain 163,231 acres of a watershed that crosses the boundaries of Vigo, Clay, Green, and Sullivan counties in West- Central Indiana. By YSI
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Active Energy Control – Energy Reductions Of Up To 10% Above Standard Drives4/1/2017
Energy costs continue to increase. At the same time, there is increased pressure to reduce utility bills without sacrificing operations or comfort.
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Simplify And Optimize Your Process With Level And Pump Control3/1/2022
Level controllers have evolved to meet today’s environmental challenges and industry demands. Learn how they support improved process management and, ultimately, a better bottom line.
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Bardac® LF 18 — A Novel Cooling Water Algaecide10/23/2020
The active ingredient in Bardac® LF 18 is dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. This product comes in two concentrations: -10WT (10% w/w) and -50WT (50% w/w). Several chemical properties of this product yield key benefits that set it apart from other industrial cooling water products. It is a quaternary ammonium compound (quat). Quats are typically low cost and highly effective biocides for a broad spectrum of organisms.
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VFD Energy Savings For Pumping Applications4/6/2017
In the early days of variable frequency drive (VFD) technology, the typical application was in process control for manufacturing synthetic fiber, steel bars, and aluminum foil.
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LC-MS Analysis Of PFAS Compounds In EPA 533 After Supelclean™ ENVI-WAX SPE Cleanup8/29/2022
This application note demonstrates the extraction and subsequent analysis of 25 related analytes from water using Supelco SPE cartridges.
DRINKING WATER PRODUCTS
The OPTIFLUX 7300 is a an electromagnetic flowmeter (EMF) for measuring very low conductivity liquids (≥0.05 μS/cm). The high-end meter is particularly suitable for applications with extremely adhesive and greasy media that tend to form an insulating film. It is also the first choice for applications involving high vibration and noise as well as oxidizing, abrasive or toxic chemicals. The leak-tight, vacuum and temperature resistant ceramic tube construction also complies with regulations of the food industry (FDA, EC1934/2004). Therefore, hygienic flow measurement with advanced requirements is another field of application.
Proprietary Composite Spiral Element. Available in Fiberglass and Netting Wrap configurations. Anti-Telescoping Device (ATD) both ends. Brine seal (one end) - Fiberglass Wrap only.
WRT's Z-92® process is the most effective and environmentally responsible choice you can make for removing uranium from drinking water and the community. That's because after removing the uranium, we dispose of it at a licensed facility
The OPTIFLUX 1300 is an electromagnetic flowmeter (EMF) with lightweight wafer-style design. The meter is an economical solution for applications with conductive liquids (≥ 5 μS/cm) and higher solid content (up to 70%). Unlike the OPTIFLUX 1100, the OPTIFLUX 1300 offers a better accuracy. The flowmeter already meets the demands of many applications in various industries. It has established itself as the preferred solution for OEM machinery applications, dosing systems, compact skids, chemical handling systems or pump and firefighting systems.
The DE NORA TETRA™ Modular DeepBed Filter Plant from De Nora Water Technologies is designed as a competitive filtration plant for tertiary effluent from small to medium size sewage works. The Modular DeepBed Filter utilizes the technology of DeepBed filtration that has made the TETRA filter such a successful tertiary treatment process over many years in Europe and the United States.
ADVANCE™ Series 200 gas feeders are designed for or automatic gas regulation. Automatic operation requires a simple addition of a motorized control valve.
LATEST INSIGHTS ON DRINKING WATER
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![LakeSuperior_Getty-1405284925]( "PFAS Are Turning Up In The Great Lakes, Putting Water Supplies At Risk — Here's How They Get There")
No matter where you live in the U.S., you have likely seen headlines about PFAS being detected in everything from drinking water to fish to milk to human bodies. Now, PFAS are posing a threat to the Great Lakes, one of America’s most vital water resources.
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![tractor_sludge_Getty-2155530305]( "Why Too Much Phosphorus In America's Farmland Is Polluting The Country's Water")
When people think about agricultural pollution, they often picture what is easy to see: fertilizer spreaders crossing fields or muddy runoff after a heavy storm. However, a much more significant threat is quietly and invisibly building in the ground. -
![EnvironmentPeople_004]( "Water In 2026: The Nexus Of Policy, Technology, And Resilience")
As water systems become more circular and complex, understanding and managing the subsurface — the hidden half of the water cycle — is becoming a critical enabler of resilience. This article explores the key trends shaping this new reality, from tackling “forever chemicals” to the water strategies redefining heavy industry. -
![Cutting Red Tape-GettyImages-502421630]( "How The NEPA Rollback Will Impact Water And Wastewater Industries")
The White House has finalized plans to roll back rules under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), narrowing its focus and limiting what the current administration claims are needless delays for federal approval of water, energy, and other infrastructure plans. For water and wastewater utilities, the changes could speed up permitting for critical projects, although experts warn the tradeoffs could do more harm than good. -
![Ultraviolet lamps for water disinfection-GettyImages-1271779123]( "Setting Global Standards: Inside North America's Only Full-Scale UV Disinfection Validation Facility")
Setting Global Standards: Inside North America's Only Full-Scale UV Disinfection Validation FacilityPortland's industry-leading facility reaches 100 reactor validations in 23 years. -
![Water analysis, purification, filtration, treatment, quality monitoring, contamination detection-GettyImages-2234293664]( "Why Haven't Field Tests For Lead In Water Gone Mainstream?")
Given the maturation of sensor technology, the scientific and operational hurdles to portable lead analysis are somewhat surprising — but surmountable.
DRINKING WATER VIDEOS
Appearing on The Weather Channel's "Wake Up With Al" morning show, water expert Dan Theobald puts drinking water to the test by measuring total dissolved solids (TDS) in tap water samples from Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey, as well as bottled water samples.
Discover how specialized restrained joints facilitate efficient horizontal directional drilling and bridge piping through a simplified, tool-free assembly process that ensures long-term reliability in challenging environments.
ABOUT DRINKING WATER
In most developed countries, drinking water is regulated to ensure that it meets drinking water quality standards. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers these standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Drinking water considerations can be divided into three core areas of concern:
- Source water for a community’s drinking water supply
- Drinking water treatment of source water
- Distribution of treated drinking water to consumers
Drinking Water Sources
Source water access is imperative to human survival. Sources may include groundwater from aquifers, surface water from rivers and streams and seawater through a desalination process. Direct or indirect water reuse is also growing in popularity in communities with limited access to sources of traditional surface or groundwater.
Source water scarcity is a growing concern as populations grow and move to warmer, less aqueous climates; climatic changes take place and industrial and agricultural processes compete with the public’s need for water. The scarcity of water supply and water conservation are major focuses of the American Water Works Association.
Drinking Water Treatment
Drinking Water Treatment involves the removal of pathogens and other contaminants from source water in order to make it safe for humans to consume. Treatment of public drinking water is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. Common examples of contaminants that need to be treated and removed from water before it is considered potable are microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radionuclides.
There are a variety of technologies and processes that can be used for contaminant removal and the removal of pathogens to decontaminate or treat water in a drinking water treatment plant before the clean water is pumped into the water distribution system for consumption.
The first stage in treating drinking water is often called pretreatment and involves screens to remove large debris and objects from the water supply. Aeration can also be used in the pretreatment phase. By mixing air and water, unwanted gases and minerals are removed and the water improves in color, taste and odor.
The second stage in the drinking water treatment process involves coagulation and flocculation. A coagulating agent is added to the water which causes suspended particles to stick together into clumps of material called floc. In sedimentation basins, the heavier floc separates from the water supply and sinks to form sludge, allowing the less turbid water to continue through the process.
During the filtration stage, smaller particles not removed by flocculation are removed from the treated water by running the water through a series of filters. Filter media can include sand, granulated carbon or manufactured membranes. Filtration using reverse osmosis membranes is a critical component of removing salt particles where desalination is being used to treat brackish water or seawater into drinking water.
Following filtration, the water is disinfected to kill or disable any microbes or viruses that could make the consumer sick. The most traditional disinfection method for treating drinking water uses chlorine or chloramines. However, new drinking water disinfection methods are constantly coming to market. Two disinfection methods that have been gaining traction use ozone and ultra-violet (UV) light to disinfect the water supply.
Drinking Water Distribution
Drinking water distribution involves the management of flow of the treated water to the consumer. By some estimates, up to 30% of treated water fails to reach the consumer. This water, often called non-revenue water, escapes from the distribution system through leaks in pipelines and joints, and in extreme cases through water main breaks.
A public water authority manages drinking water distribution through a network of pipes, pumps and valves and monitors that flow using flow, level and pressure measurement sensors and equipment.
Water meters and metering systems such as automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) allows a water utility to assess a consumer’s water use and charge them for the correct amount of water they have consumed.